The Ajanta Caves: Ancient Paintings of Buddhist India.

BENOY K. BEHL

In the gorge of the Waghora River in western India are 27 caves containing art of Buddhism dating to the second century B.C. Behl reveals these masterpieces, for the first time, in more than 200 beautiful color photographs and black-and-white illustrations. To remain faithful to the murals' true colors, Behl used long film exposures and eschewed flash photography. The resulting photos of the four principal caves, monasteries known as viharas, are presented as large color plates with captions. Furthermore, Behl provides a history of the murals' creation and discovery and an outline of the parables, called Jatakas, depicted in the artwork. Also included are a brief examination of the Ajanta caves' impact on Asian art and an appendix of early descriptions of the caves, written in the 19th century by their British discoverers. This book will appeal both to readers interested in ancient art and to those exploring Buddhist history. Thames & Hudson, 2005, 256 p., color plates/b&w illus., paperback, $34.95.